question reguarding upgrading kernel

I'm new to ia64 and I think like most people who get on this machine for 
the first time as a system admin is that EVERYTHING is different.

My main goal right now is to update the kernel on this machine and work 
with efi to add the proper entry to boot from this new kernel.

This machines was installed with 7.2 itanium.  I've built a new kernel, 
found docs on doing the "make compress", etc, moved it into the same place 
as the existing Red Hat installed kernel.

My last step is to get this thing to boot with the new kernel.  I don't 
understand the efi boot manager at all.  Any quick and dirty howtos on 
adding and boot from a new kernel?  

A side goal of this is to not mess up the machine as people need this, so 
I want to be sure I can boot an old kernel label in this process.

Thanks
-jeremy